For the last decade, the powers-that-be in Weehawken have concentrated much of their efforts in beautifying and bettering Park Avenue. There was a Park Avenue Revitalization Committee formed. Many projects had been put into place to make Park Avenue more aesthetically pleasing, especially around the famed Weehawken Water Tower and the Tower Shopping Plaza.
New streetlights and streetscapes were purchased over the years, with new sidewalks put into place, making Park Avenue the centerpiece of the township.
However, Park Avenue does stretch further past the center of the town. It manages to wind south past Town Hall, down the Palisades toward the Lincoln Tunnel and over a bridge to the Hoboken border.
Yet, the lower portion of Park Avenue was more of a forgotten parcel of the main thoroughfare.
Until now.
Last week, the Weehawken Township Council broke ground on an estimated $350,000 improvement project that will help beautify the southern entrance of the town and help enhance the few businesses that operate in that area.
Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner, 1st Ward Councilwoman Carmela Silvestri Ehret, and the contractors and architects hired to do the project broke ground to officially begin the revitalization and restoration of the area, which should be completed by the end of September.
The funding for the project comes from a federal Community Development Block Grant, as well as a special state of New Jersey Living Community grant that is set aside to help blighted areas.
“For the last 15 years, we have concentrated on improving all parts of Park Avenue, but this was the last business section in town that needed the improvements,” Turner said. “It’s a small business area that was in decline. We didn’t want the deterioration of the area to spread to the existing neighborhoods. By doing these improvements, it will make the businesses in the area more viable and improve the town’s look coming into Weehawken from Hoboken.”
Not only will the streets and sidewalks receive improvement, but the town is also working with the landlords and building owners to participate in a façade-improvement program that will enhance the exterior of the existing buildings as well.
Waiting for the bridge
Turner said that there was a delay in the improvement project, because the state Department of Transportation was still involved with making the improvements to the Willow Avenue bridge that connects Weehawken and Hoboken.
“It didn’t make sense to make improvements while the bridge construction was going on,” Turner said. “We had to wait for the bridge to get done. Now, that the work is completed, we can move forward with this project.”
The improvements will mirror those already done on upper Park Avenue, meaning new brick-lined sidewalks, streetscapes, lighting and benches.
“This gives us an opportunity to match upper Park Avenue,” said Ehret, who was very instrumental in the improvement project moving forward. “It was kind of a depressed area, but this will make it look nice to all those who enter Weehawken from the south. Hopefully, it will help the businesses as well. People will want to come into Weehawken if it looks better. Considering that the funding is coming from the federal and state government, it’s a no-lose situation for us. This is our way of fixing up and dressing up that area.”
Oscar Phemsint owns Oscar’s International Cuisine, a restaurant located at the foot of Park Avenue. For the last six years, Phemsint has battled a host of troubles, including a parking crunch, but he believes the improvements will go a long way to help his plight.
“I’m very happy about the plan,” Phemsint said. “It should be good for everyone in the town. I think it will make everything look good and that will help my business too. If it looks good, it will help business.”